K'taka hands over 154 acres to AAI for Mysore airport

MYSORE: Karnataka government on Friday formally handed over 154 acres of the 174 acres earmarked for a full-fledged airport in the city to Airports Authority of India (AAI), thus moving closer to realising a five-decade long dream for building a modern airport here.

At a function held at Mandakalli Airport, Deputy Commissioner S Selva Kumar handed over the documents pertaining to the land to AAI Deputy General Manager M N N Rao.

The handing over of the papers marks the beginning of work on the Rs 70-crore first phase of the project that envisages upgradation of the existing airport.

Rao told reporters that during the first phase, which would be completed in 24 months, landing of ATR 72 type aircraft with a seating capacity of 65 to 70 passengers would be facilitated.

The project's second phase envisages infrastructural development to facilitate landing of bigger aircraft like Airbus 320 with a seating capacity of 160 seats, as well as Boeing 737.

During the first phase, works such as construction of two runways, perimeter and terminal grounds would be taken up.

Kumar said that the process to acquire 95 acres for the second phase would be initiated in the near future.

As per the MoU inked on the project, the state government would provide free water, power and security at the airport.

The Deputy Commissioner said that the process to acquire remaining 20 acres for the project was being initiated.